At Venice one finds merchants from every nation, Jews and Greeks being

very numerous. Roustan, who understood the language of the latter, was

sought after by the most distinguished among them; and the heads of a

Greek family came one day to invite him to visit them at their residence

on one of the islands which lie around Venice. Roustan confided to me

his desire to accept this invitation, and I was delighted with his

proposition that I should accompany him. On our arrival at their island,

we were received by our hosts, who were very wealthy merchants, as if we

had been old friends. The apartment, a kind of parlor into which we were

ushered, not only evinced cultivation and refinement, but great elegance;

a large divan extended around the hall, the inlaid floor of which was

covered with artistically woven mats. Our hosts were six men who were

associated in the same trade. I would have been somewhat embarrassed had

not one of them who spoke French conversed with me, while the others

talked to Roustan in their native tongue. We were offered coffee,

fruits, ices, and pipes; and as I was never fond of smoking, and knew

besides the disgust inspired in the Emperor by odors in general, and

especially that of tobacco, I refused the pipe, and expressed a fear that

my clothes might be scented by being so near the smokers. I thought I

perceived that this delicacy lowered me considerably in the esteem of my

hosts, notwithstanding which, as we left, they gave us most urgent

invitations to repeat our visit, which it was impossible to do, as the

Emperor soon after left Venice.

On my return, the Emperor asked me if I had been through the city, what I

thought of it, and if I had entered any residences; in fact, what seemed

to me worthy of notice. I replied as well as I could; and as his Majesty

was just then in a mood for light conversation, spoke to him of our

excursion, and visit to the Greek family. The Emperor asked me what

these Greeks thought of him. "Sire," replied I, "the one who spoke

French seemed entirely devoted to your Majesty, and expressed to me the

hope which he and also his brothers entertained, that the Emperor of the

French, who had successfully combated the mamelukes in Egypt, might also

some day make himself the liberator of Greece."

"Ah, Monsieur Constant," said the Emperor to me, pinching me sharply,

"you are meddling with politics."--"Pardon me, Sire, I only repeated what

I heard, and it is not astonishing that all the oppressed count on your

Majesty's aid. These poor Greeks seem to love their country

passionately, and, above all, detest the Turks most cordially."--"That is

good," said his Majesty; "but I must first of all attend to my own

business. Constant!" continued his Majesty suddenly changing the

subject of this conversation with which he had deigned to honor me, and

smiling with an ironical air, "what do you think of the appearance of the

beautiful Greek women? How many models have you seen worthy of Canova or

of David?" I was obliged to admit to his Majesty that what had

influenced me most in accepting Roustan's proposition was the hope of

seeing a few of these much vaunted beauties, and that I had been cruelly

disappointed in not having seen the shadow of a woman. At this frank

avowal the Emperor, who had expected it in advance, laughed heartily, and

took his revenge on my ears, calling me a libertine: "You do not know

then, Monsieur le Drole, that your good friends the Greeks have adopted

the customs of those Turks whom they detest so cordially, and like them

seclude their wives and daughters in order that they may never appear

before bad men like yourself."

Although the Greek ladies of Venice may be carefully watched by their

husbands, they are neither secluded nor guarded in a seraglio like the

Turkish women; for during our stay at Venice, a great person spoke to his

Majesty of a young and beautiful Greek, who was an enthusiastic admirer

of the Emperor of the French. This lady was very ambitious of being

received by his Majesty in his private rooms, and although carefully

watched by a jealous husband, had found means to send to the Emperor a

letter in which she depicted the intensity of her love and admiration.

This letter, written with real passion and in an exalted strain, inspired

in his Majesty a desire to see and know the author, but it was necessary

he should use precautions, for the Emperor was not the man to abuse his

power to snatch a woman from her husband; and yet all the care that he

took in keeping the affair secret did not prevent her husband from

suspecting the plans of his wife, and before it was possible for her to

see the Emperor, she was carried away far from Venice, and her prudent

husband carefully covered her steps and concealed her flight. When her

disappearance was announced to the Emperor: "He is an old fool," said his

Majesty, laughing, "who thinks he is strong enough to struggle against

his destiny." His Majesty formed no other liaison during our stay at

Venice.

Before leaving this city, the Emperor rendered a decree which was

received with inexpressible enthusiasm, and added much to the regret

which his Majesty's departure caused the inhabitants of Venice. The

department of the Adriatic, of which Venice was the chief city, was

enlarged in all its maritime coasts, from the town of Aquila as far as

Adria. The decree ordered, moreover, that the port should be repaired,

the canals deepened and cleaned, the great wall of Palestrina of which I

have spoken above, and the jetties in front of it, extended and

maintained; that a canal of communication between the arsenal of Venice

and the Pass of Mala-Mocco should be dug; and finally that this passage

itself should be cleared and deepened sufficiently for vessels of the

line of seventy-four tons burthen to pass in and out.

Other articles related to benevolent establishments, the administration

of which was given to a kind of council called the Congregation of

Charities, and the cession to the city from the royal domain of the

island of Saint Christopher, to be used as a general cemetery; for until

then here, as in the rest of Italy, they had the pernicious custom of

interring the dead in churches. Finally the decree ordered the adoption

of a new mode of lighting the beautiful square of Saint Mark, the

construction of new quays, gateways, etc.

When we left Venice the Emperor was conducted to the shore by a crowd of

the population fully as numerous as that which welcomed his arrival.

Trevise, Undine, and Mantua rivaled each other in their eagerness to

receive his Majesty in a becoming manner. King Joseph had left the

Emperor to return to Naples; but Prince Murat and the vice-king

accompanied his Majesty.

The Emperor stopped only two or three days at Milan, and continued his

journey. On reaching the plains of Marengo, he found there the entire

population of Alexandria awaiting him, and was received by the light of

thousands of torches. We passed through Turin without stopping, and on

the 30th of December again descended Mont Cenis, and on the evening of

the 1st of January arrived at the Tuileries.

CHAPTER VII.

We arrived in Paris on the 1st of January at nine o'clock in the evening;

and as the theater of the palace of the Tuileries was now completed, on

the Sunday following his Majesty's return the Griselda of M. Paer was

presented in this magnificent hall. Their Majesties' boxes were situated

in front of the curtain, opposite each other, and presented a charming

picture, with their hangings of crimson silk draped above, and forming a

background to broad, movable mirrors, which reflected at will the

audience or the play. The Emperor, still impressed with the

recollections of the theaters of Italy, criticised unsparingly that of

the Tuileries, saying that it was inconvenient, badly planned, and much

too large for a palace theater; but notwithstanding all these criticisms,

when the day of inauguration came, and the Emperor was convinced of the

very great ingenuity M. Fontaine had shown in distributing the boxes so

as to make the splendid toilets appear to the utmost advantage, he

appeared well satisfied, and charged the Duke of Frioul to present to M.

Fontaine the congratulations he so well deserved.

A week after we saw the reverse of the medal. On that day Cinna was

presented, and a comedy, the name of which I have forgotten. It was such

extremely cold weather that we were obliged to leave the theater

immediately after the tragedy, in consequence of which the Emperor

exhausted himself in invectives against the hall, which according to him

was good for nothing but to be burnt. M. Fontaine [Born at Pontoise,

1762; erected the arch of the Carrousel; died 1853] was summoned, and

promised to do everything in his power to remedy the inconveniences

pointed out to him; and in fact, by means of new furnaces placed under

the theater, with pipes through the ceiling, and steps placed under the

benches of the second tier of boxes, in a week the hall was made warm and

comfortable.

For several weeks the Emperor occupied himself almost exclusively with

buildings and improvements. The arch of triumph of the Place du

Carrousel, from which the scaffolding had been removed in order to allow

the Imperial Guard to pass beneath it on their return from Prussia, first

attracted his Majesty's attention. This monument was then almost

completed, with the exception of a few bas-reliefs which were still to be

put in position. The Emperor took a critical view of it from one of the

palace windows, and said, after knitting his brows two or three times,

that this mass resembled much more a pavilion than a gate, and that he

would have much preferred one constructed in the style of the porte

Saint-Denis.

After visiting in detail the various works begun or carried on since his

departure, his Majesty one morning sent for M. Fontaine, and having

discoursed at length on what he thought worthy of praise or blame in all

that he had seen, informed him of his intentions with regard to the plans

which the architect had furnished for joining the Tuileries to the

Louvre. It was agreed by the Emperor and M. Fontaine that these

buildings should be united by two wings, the first of which should be

finished in five years, a million to be granted each year for this

purpose; and that a second wing should also be constructed on the

opposite side, extending from the Louvre to the Tuileries, forming thus a

perfect square, in the midst of which would be erected an opera house,

isolated on all sides, and communicating with the palace by a

subterranean gallery.

The gallery forming the court in front of the Louvre was to be opened to

the public in winter, and decorated with statues, and also with all the

shrubbery now in boxes in the garden of the Tuileries; and in this court

he intended to erect an arch of triumph very similar to that of the

Carrousel. Finally, all these beautiful buildings were to be used as

lodgings for the grand officers of the crown, as stables, etc. The

necessary expense was estimated as approximating forty-two millions.

The Emperor was occupied in succession with a palace of arts; with a new

building for the Imperial library, to be placed on the spot now occupied

by the Bourse; with a palace for the stock-exchange on the quay Desaix;

with the restoration of the Sorbonne and the hotel Soubise; with a

triumphal column at Neuilly; with a fountain on the Place Louis XV.; with

tearing down the Hotel-Dieu to enlarge and beautify the Cathedral

quarter; and with the construction of four hospitals at Mont-Parnasse, at

Chaillot, at Montmartre, and in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine, etc. All

these plans were very grand; and there is no doubt that he who had

conceived them would have executed them; and it has often been said that

had he lived, Paris would have had no rival in any department in the

world.

At the same time his Majesty decided definitely on the form of the arch

of triumph de l'Etoile, which had been long debated, and for which all

the architects of the crown had submitted plans. It was M. Fontaine

whose opinion prevailed; since among all the plans presented his was the

simplest, and at the same time the most imposing.

The Emperor was also much interested in the restoration of the palace of

Versailles. M. Fontaine had submitted to his Majesty a plan for the

first repairs, by the terms of which, for the sum of six millions, the

Emperor and Empress would have had a comfortable dwelling. His Majesty,

who liked everything grand, handsome, superb, but at the same time

economical, wrote at the bottom of this estimate the following note,

which M. de Bausset reports thus in his Memoirs:--

"The plans in regard to Versailles must be carefully considered.

Those which M. Fontaine submits are very reasonable, the estimate

being six millions; but this includes dwellings, with the

restoration of the chapel and that of the theater, only sufficiently

comfortable for present use, not such as they should be one day.

"By this plan, the Emperor and Empress would have their apartments;

but we must remember that this sum should also furnish lodgings for

princes, grand and inferior officers.

"It is also necessary to know where will be placed the factory of

arms, which will be needed at Versailles, since it puts silver in

circulation.

"It will be necessary out of these six millions to find six lodgings

for princes, twelve for grand officers, and fifty for inferior

officers.

"Then only can we decide to make Versailles our residence, and pass

the summers there. Before adopting these plans, it will be

necessary that the architect who engages to execute them should

certify that they can be executed for the proposed sum."

A few days after their arrival their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress,

went to visit the celebrated David

[Jacques Louis David, born in Paris, 1748, celebrated historical

painter, member of convention, 1792, and voted for the death of the

king. Died in Brussels, 1825.]

at his studio in the Sorbonne, in order to see the magnificent picture of

the coronation, which had just been finished. Their Majesties' suite was

composed of Marshal Bessieres, an aide-de-camp of the Emperor, M. Lebrun,

several ladies of the palace, and chamberlains. The Emperor and Empress

contemplated with admiration for a long while this beautiful painting,

which comprised every species of merit; and the painter was in his glory

while hearing his Majesty name, one by one, all the different personages

of the picture, for the resemblance was really miraculous. "How grand

that is!" said the Emperor; "how fine! how the figures are brought out

in relief! how truthful! This is not a painting; the figures live in

this picture!" First directing his attention to the grand tribune in the

midst, the Emperor, recognized Madame his mother, General Beaumont, M. de

Cosse, M. de La Ville, Madame de Fontanges, and Madame Soult. "I see in

the distance," said he, "good M. Vien." M. David replied, "Yes, Sire; I

wished to show my admiration for my illustrious master by placing him in

this picture, which, on account of its subject, will be the most famous

of my works." The Empress then took part in the conversation, and

pointed out to the Emperor how happily M. David had seized upon and

represented the interesting moment when the Emperor is on the point of

being crowned. "Yes," said his Majesty, regarding it with a pleasure

that he did not seek to disguise, "the moment is well chosen, and the

scene perfectly represented; the two figures are very fine," and speaking

thus, the Emperor looked at the Empress.

His Majesty continued the examination of the picture in all its details,

and praised especially the group of the Italian clergy near the altar,

which episode was invented by the painter. He seemed to wish only that

the Pope had been represented in more direct action, appearing to give

his blessing, and that the crown of the Empress had been borne by the

cardinal legate. In regard to this group, Marshal Bessieres made the

Emperor laugh heartily, by relating to him the very amusing discussion

which had taken place between David and Cardinal Caprara.

It is well known that the artist had a great aversion to dressed figures,

especially to those clothed in the modern style. In all his paintings,

there may be remarked such a pronounced love for the antique that it even

shows itself in his manner of draping living persons. Now, Cardinal

Caprara, one of the assistants of the Pope at the ceremony of the

coronation, wore a wig; and David, in giving him a place in his picture,

thought it more suitable to take off his wig, and represent him with a

bald head, the likeness being otherwise perfect. The Cardinal was much

grieved, and begged the artist to restore his wig, but received from

David a formal refusal. "Never," said he, "will I degrade my pencil so

far as to paint a wig." His Eminence went away very angry, and

complained to M. de Talleyrand, who was at this time Minister of Foreign

Affairs, giving, among other reasons, this, which seemed to him

unanswerable, that, as no Pope had ever worn a wig, they would not fail

to attribute to him, Cardinal Caprara, an intention of aspiring to the

pontifical chair in case of a vacancy, which intention would be clearly

shown by the suppression of his wig in the picture of the coronation.

The entreaties of his Eminence were all in vain; for David would not

consent to restore his precious wig, saying, that "he ought to be very

glad he had taken off no more than that."

After hearing this story, the particulars of which were confirmed by the

principal actor in the scene, his Majesty made some observations to M.

David, with all possible delicacy. They were attentively noted by this

admirable artist, who, with a bow, promised the Emperor to profit by his

advice. Their Majesties' visit was long, and lasted until the fading

light warned the Emperor that it was time to return. M. David escorted

him to the door of his studio; and there, stopping short, the Emperor

took off his hat, and, by a most graceful bow, testified to the honor he

felt for such distinguished talent. The Empress added to the agitation

by which M. David seemed almost overcome by a few of the charming words

of appreciation she so well knew how to say, and said so opportunely.

Opposite the picture of the coronation was placed that of the Sabines.

The Emperor, who perceived how anxious M. David was to dispose of this,

gave orders to M. Lebrun, as he left, to see if this picture could not be

placed to advantage in the grand gallery at the Tuileries. But he soon

changed his mind when he reflected that most of the figures were

represented in naturalibus, which would appear incongruous in an

apartment used for grand diplomatic receptions, and in which the Council

of Ministers usually sat.

CHAPTER VIII.

The last of January, Mademoiselle de Tascher, niece of her Majesty the

Empress, was married to the Duke of Aremberg. The Emperor on this

occasion raised Mademoiselle de Tascher to the dignity of a princess, and

deigned, in company with the Empress, to honor with his presence the

marriage, which took place at the residence of her Majesty the Queen of

Holland, in the Rue de Ceriltti, and was celebrated with a splendor

worthy of the august guests. The Empress remained some time after

dinner, and opened the ball with the Duke of Aremberg. A few days after

this the Prince of Hohenzollern married the niece of the Grand Duke of

Berg and Cleves, Mademoiselle Antoinette Murat.

His Majesty honored her as he had done Mademoiselle Tascher, and, in

company with the Empress, also attended the ball which the Grand Duke of

Berg gave on the occasion of this marriage, and at which Princess

Caroline presided.

This was a brilliant winter at Paris, owing to the great number of fetes

and balls which were given. The Emperor, as I have already said, had an

aversion to balls, and especially masked balls, which he considered the

most senseless things in the world, and this was a subject on which he

was often at war with the Empress; but, notwithstanding this, on one

occasion he yielded to the entreaties of M. de Marescalchi, the Italian

ambassador, noted for his magnificent balls, which the most distinguished

personages of the kingdom attended. These brilliant reunions took place

in a hall which the ambassador had built for the purpose, and decorated

with extraordinary luxury and splendor; and his Majesty, as I have said,

consented to honor with his presence a masked ball given by this

ambassador, which was to eclipse all others.

In the morning the Emperor called me, and said, "I have decided to dance

this evening at the house of the ambassador of Italy; you will carry,

during the day, ten complete costumes to the apartments he has prepared

for me." I obeyed, and in the evening accompanied his Majesty to the

residence of M. Marescalchi, and dressed him as best I could in a black

domino, taking great pains to render him unrecognizable; and everything

went well, in spite of numerous observations on the Emperor's part as to

the absurdity of a disguise, the bad appearance a domino makes, etc.

But, when it was proposed to change his shoes, he rebelled absolutely, in

spite of all I could say on this point; and consequently he was

recognized the moment he entered the ballroom. He went straight to a

masker, his hands behind his back, as usual, and attempted to enter into

an intrigue, and at the first question he asked was called Sire, in

reply. Whereupon, much disappointed, he turned on his heel, and came

back to me. "You are right, Constant; I am recognized. Bring me

lace-boots and another costume." I put the boots on his feet, and

disguised him anew, advising him to let his arms hang, if he did not

wish to be recognized at once; and his Majesty promised to obey in every

particular what he called my instructions. He had hardly entered the

room in his new costume, however, before he was accosted by a lady, who,

seeing him with his hands again crossed behind his back, said, "Sire,

you are recognized!" The Emperor immediately let his arms fall; but it

was too late, for already every one moved aside respectfully to make

room for him. He then returned to his room, and took a third costume,

promising me implicitly to pay attention to his gestures and his walk,

and offering to bet that he would not be recognized. This time, in

fact, he entered the hall as if it were a barrack, pushing and elbowing

all around him; but, in spite of this, some one whispered in his ear,

"Your Majesty is recognized." A new disappointment, new change of

costume, and new advice on my part, with the same result; until at last

his Majesty left the ambassador's ball, persuaded that he could not be

disguised, and that the Emperor would be recognized whatever mask he

might assume.

That evening at supper, the Prince de Neuchatel, the Duke de Trevise, the

Duke de Frioul, and some other officers being present, the Emperor

related the history of his disguises, and made many jests on his

awkwardness. In speaking of the young lady who had recognized him the

evening before, and who had, it appeared, puzzled him greatly, "Can you

believe it, Messieurs," said he, "I never succeeded in recognizing the

little wretch at all?" During the carnival the Empress expressed a wish

to go once to the masked ball at the opera; and when she begged the

Emperor to accompany her he refused, in spite of all the tender and

enticing things the Empress could say, and all the grace with which, as

is well known, she could surround a petition. She found that all was

useless, as the Emperor said plainly that he would not go. "Well, I will

go without you."--"As you please," and the Emperor went out.

That evening at the appointed hour the Empress went to the ball; and the

Emperor, who wished to surprise her, had one of her femmes de chambre

summoned, and obtained from her an exact description of the Empress's

costume. He then told me to dress him in a domino, entered a carriage

without decorations, and accompanied by the grand marshal of the palace,

a superior officer, and myself, took the road to the opera. On reaching

the private entrance of the Emperor's household, we encountered some

difficulty, as the doorkeeper would not let us pass till I had told my

name and rank. "These gentlemen are with you?"--"As you see."--"I beg

your pardon, Monsieur Constant; but it is because in such times as these

there are always persons who try to enter without paying."--"That is

good! That is good!" and the Emperor laughed heartily at the

doorkeeper's observations. At last we entered, and having got as far as

the hall, promenaded in couples, I giving my arm to the Emperor, who said

thou to me, and bade me reply in the same way. We gave each other

fictitious names, the Emperor calling himself Auguste; the Duke de

Frioul, Francois; the superior officer, whose name escapes me, Charles;

while I was Joseph. As soon as his Majesty saw a domino similar to the

one the femme de chambre had described, he pressed my arm and said, "Is

that she?"--"No, Si--- no, Auguste," replied I, constantly correcting

myself; for it was impossible to accustom myself to calling the Emperor

otherwise than Sire or your Majesty. He had, as I have said, expressly

ordered me to tutoy him; but he was every moment compelled to repeat this

order to me, for respect tied my tongue every time I tried to say tu. At

last, after having gone in every direction, explored every corner and

nook of the saloon, the green-room, the boxes, etc., in fact, examined

everything, and looked each costume over in detail, his Majesty, who was

no more successful in recognizing her Majesty than were we, began to feel

great anxiety, which I, however, succeeded in allaying by telling him

that doubtless the Empress had gone to change her costume. As I was

speaking, a domino arrived who seemed enamoured of the Emperor, accosted

him, mystified him, tormented him in every way, and with so much vivacity

that Auguste was beside himself; and it is impossible to give even a

faint idea of the comical sight the Emperor presented in his

embarrassment. The domino, delighted at this, redoubled her wit and

raillery until, thinking it time to cease, she disappeared in the crowd.

The Emperor was completely exasperated; he had seen enough, and we left

the ball.

The next morning when he saw the Empress, he remarked, "Well, you did not

go to the opera ball, after all!"--"Oh, yes, indeed I did."--"Nonsense!"

--"I assure you that I went. And you, my dear, what did you do all the

evening?"--"I worked."--"Why, that is very singular; for I saw at the

ball last night a domino who had exactly your foot and boots. I took him

for you, and consequently addressed him." The Emperor laughed heartily

on learning that he had been thus duped; the Empress, just as she left

for the ball, had changed her costume, not thinking the first

sufficiently elegant.

The carnival was extremely brilliant this year, and there were in Paris

all kinds of masquerades. The most amusing were those in which the

theory advocated by the famous Doctor Gall [Franz Joseph Gall, founder

of the system of phrenology. Born in Baden, 1758; died in Paris, 1825]

was illustrated. I saw a troop passing the Place du Carrousel, composed

of clowns, harlequins, fishwives, etc., all rubbing their skulls, and

making expressive grimaces; while a clown bore several skulls of

different sizes, painted red, blue, or green, with these inscriptions:

Skull of a robber, skull of an assassin, skull of a bankrupt, etc.; and a

masked figure, representing Doctor Gall, was seated on an ass, his head

turned to the animal's tail, and receiving from the hands of a woman who

followed him, and was also seated on an ass, heads covered with wigs made

of long grass.

Her Majesty Queen Caroline gave a masked ball, at which the Emperor and

Empress were present, which was one of the most brilliant I have ever

attended.

The opera of la Vestale was then new, and very much the fashion; it

represented a quadrille of priests and vestals who entered to the sound

of delicious music on the flute and harp, and in addition to this there

were magicians, a Swiss marriage, Tyrolian betrothals, etc. All the

costumes were wonderfully handsome and true to nature; and there had been

arranged in the apartments at the palace a supply of costumes which

enabled the dancers to change four or five times during the night, and

which had the effect of renewing the ball as many times.

As I was dressing the Emperor for this ball, he said to me, "Constant,

you must go with me in disguise. Take whatever costume you like,

disguise yourself so that you cannot possibly be recognized, and I will

give you instructions." I hastened to do as his Majesty ordered, donned a

Swiss costume which suited me very well, and thus equipped awaited his

Majesty's orders.

He had a plan for mystifying several great personages, and two or three

ladies whom the Emperor designated to me with such minute details that it

was impossible to mistake them, and told me some singular things in

regard to them, which were not generally known, and were well calculated

to embarrass them terribly. As I was starting, the Emperor called me

back, saying, "Above all, Constant, take care to make no mistake, and do

not confound Madame de M---- with her sister; they have almost exactly

the same costume, but Madame de M--- is larger than she, so take care."

On my arrival at the ball, I sought and easily found the persons whom his

Majesty had designated, and the replies which they made afforded him much

amusement when I narrated them as he was retiring.

There was at this time a third marriage at the court, that of the Prince

de Neuchatel and the Princess of Bavaria, which was celebrated in the

chapel of the Tuileries by Cardinal Fesch.

A traveler just returned from the Isle of France presented to the Empress

a female monkey of the orang-outang species; and her Majesty gave orders

that the animal should be placed in the menagerie at Malmaison. This

baboon was extremely gentle and docile, and its master had given it an

excellent education. It was wonderful to see her, when any one

approached the chair on which she was seated, take a decent position,

draw over her legs and thighs the fronts of a long redingote, and, when

she rose to make a bow, hold the redingote carefully in front of her,

acting, in fact, exactly as would a young girl who had been well reared.

She ate at the table with a knife and fork more properly than many

children who are thought to be carefully trained, and liked, while

eating, to cover her face with her napkin, and then uncover it with a cry

of joy. Turnips were her favorite food; and, when a lady of the palace

showed her one, she began to run, caper, and cut somersaults, forgetting

entirely the lessons of modesty and decency her professor had taught her.

The Empress was much amused at seeing the baboon lose her dignity so

completely under the influence of this lady.

This poor beast had inflammation of the stomach, and, according to the

directions of the traveler who brought her, was placed in bed and a

night-dress put on her. She took great care to keep the covering up to

her chin, though unwilling to have anything on her head; and held her

arms out of the bed, her hands hidden in the sleeves of the night-dress.

When any one whom she knew entered the room, she nodded to them and took

their hand, pressing it affectionately. She eagerly swallowed the

medicines prescribed, as they were sweet; and one day, while a draught of

manna was being prepared, which she thought too long delayed, she showed

every sign of impatience, and threw herself from side to side like a

fretful child; at last, throwing off the covering, she seized her

physician by the coat with so much obstinacy that he was compelled to

yield. The instant she obtained possession of the eagerly coveted cup

she manifested the greatest delight, and began to drink, taking little

sips, and smacking her lips with all the gratification of an epicure who

tastes a glass of wine which he thinks very old and very delicious. At

last the cup was emptied, she returned it, and lay down again. It is

impossible to give an idea of the gratitude this poor animal showed

whenever anything was done for her. The Empress was deeply attached to

her.

CHAPTER IX.

After remaining about a week at the chateau of Saint-Cloud, his Majesty

set out, on the 2d of April, at 11 o'clock in the morning, to visit the

departments of the South; and as this journey was to begin at Bordeaux,

the Emperor requested the Empress to meet him there. This publicly

announced intention was simply a pretext, in order, to mislead the

curious, for we knew that we were going to the frontier of Spain.

The Emperor remained barely ten days there, and then left for Bayonne

alone, leaving the Empress at Bordeaux, and reaching Bayonne on the night

of the 14-15th of April, where her Majesty the Empress rejoined him two

or three days afterwards.

The Prince of Neuchatel and the grand marshal lodged at the chateau of

Marrac, the rest of their Majesties' suite lodged at Bayonne and its

suburbs, the guard camped in front of the chateau on a place called the

Parterre, and in three days all were comfortably located.

On the morning of the 15th of April, the Emperor had hardly recovered

from the fatigue of his journey, when he received the authorities of

Bayonne, who came to congratulate him, and questioned them, as was his

custom, most pointedly. His Majesty then set out to visit the fort and

fortifications, which occupied him till the evening, when he returned to

the Government palace, which he occupied temporarily while waiting till

the chateau of Marrac should be ready to receive him.

On his return to the palace the Emperor expected to find the Infant Don

Carlos, whom his brother Ferdinand, the Prince of the Asturias, had sent

to Bayonne to present his compliments to the Emperor; but he was informed

that the Infant was ill, and would not be able to come. The Emperor

immediately gave orders to send one of his physicians to attend upon him,

with a valet de chambre and several other persons; for the prince had

come to Bayonne without attendants, and incognito, attended only by a

military service composed of a few soldiers of the garrison. The Emperor

also ordered that this service should be replaced by one more suitable,

consisting of the Guard of Honor of Bayonne, and sent two or three times

each day to inquire the condition of the Infant, who it was freely

admitted in the palace was very ill.

On leaving the Government palace to take up his abode at Marrac, the

Emperor gave all necessary orders that it should be in readiness to

receive the King and Queen of Spain, who were expected at Bayonne the

last of the month; and expressly recommended that everything should be

done to render to the sovereigns of Spain all the honors due their

position. Just as the Emperor entered the chateau the sound of music was

heard, and the grand marshal entered to inform his Majesty that a large

company of the inhabitants in the costume of the country were assembled

before the gate of the chateau. The Emperor immediately went to the

window; and, at sight of him, seventeen persons (seven men and ten women)

began with inimitable grace a dance called 'la pamperruque', in which the

women kept time on tambourines, and the men with castanets, to an

orchestra composed of flutes and guitars. I went out of the castle to

view this scene more closely. The women wore short skirts of blue silk,

and pink stockings likewise embroidered in silver; their hair was tied

with ribbons, and they wore very broad black bracelets, that set off to

advantage the dazzling whiteness of their bare arms. The men wore

tight-fitting white breeches, with silk stockings and large epaulettes,

a loose vest of very fine woolen cloth ornamented with gold, and their

hair caught up in a net like the Spaniards.

His Majesty took great pleasure in witnessing this dance, which is

peculiar to the country and very ancient, which the custom of the country

has consecrated as a means of rendering homage to great personages. The

Emperor remained at the window until the 'pamperruque' was finished, and

then sent to compliment the dancers on their skill, and to express his

thanks to the inhabitants assembled in crowds at the gate.

His Majesty a few days afterward received from his Royal Highness, the

Prince of the Asturias, a letter, in which he announced that he intended

setting out from Irun, where he then was, at an early day, in order to

have the pleasure of making the acquaintance of his brother (it was thus

Prince Ferdinand called the Emperor); a pleasure which he had long

desired, and which he would at last enjoy if his good brother would allow

him. This letter was brought to the Emperor by one of the aides-de-camp

of the prince, who had accompanied him from Madrid, and preceded him to

Bayonne by only ten days. His Majesty could hardly believe what he read

and heard; and I, with several other persons, heard him exclaim, "What,

he is coming here? but you must be mistaken; he must be deceiving us;

that cannot be possible!" And I can certify that, in these words, the

Emperor manifested no pleasure at the announcement.

It was necessary, however, to make preparations to receive the prince,

since he was certainly coming; consequently the Prince of Neuchatel, the

Duke of Frioul, and a chamberlain of honor, were selected by his Majesty.

And the guard of honor received orders to accompany these gentlemen, and

meet the Prince of Spain just outside the town of Bayonne; the rank which

the Emperor recognized in Ferdinand not rendering it proper that the

escort should go as far as the frontier of the two empires. The Prince

made his entrance into Bayonne at noon, on the 20th of April. Lodgings

which would have been considered very inferior in Paris, but which were

elegant in Bayonne, had been prepared for him and his brother, the Infant

Don Carlos, who was already installed there. Prince Ferdinand made a

grimace on entering, but did not dare to complain aloud; and certainly it

would have been most improper for him to have done so, since it was not

the Emperor's fault that Bayonne possessed only one palace, which was at

this time reserved for the king, and, besides, this house, the handsomest

in the town, was large and perfectly new. Don Pedro de Cevallos, who

accompanied the prince, thought it horrible, and unfit for a royal

personage. It was the residence of the commissariat. An hour after

Ferdinand's arrival, the Emperor visited him. He was awaiting the

Emperor at the door, and held out his arms on his approach; they

embraced, and ascended to his apartments, where they remained about half

an hour, and when they separated the prince wore a somewhat anxious air.

His Majesty on his return charged the grand marshal to convey to the

prince and his brother, Don Carlos, the Duke of San-Carlos, the Duke of

Infantado, Don Pedro de Cevallos, and two or three other persons of the

suite, an invitation to dine with him; and the Emperor's carriages were

sent for these illustrious guests at the appointed hour, and they were

conveyed to the chateau. His Majesty descended to the foot of the

staircase to receive the prince; but this was the limit of his deference,

for not once during dinner did he give Prince Ferdinand, who was a king

at Madrid, the title of your majesty, nor even that of highness; nor did

he accompany him on his departure any farther than the first door of the

saloon; and he afterwards informed him, by a message, that he would have

no other rank than that of Prince of the Asturias until the arrival of

his father, King Charles. Orders were given at the same time to place on

duty at the house of the princes, the Bayonnaise guard of honor, with the

Imperial Guard in addition to a detachment of picked police.

On the 27th of April the Empress arrived from Bordeaux at seven o'clock

in the evening, having made no stay at Bayonne, where her arrival excited

little enthusiasm, as they were perhaps displeased that she did not stop

there. His Majesty received her with much tenderness, and showed much

solicitude as to the fatigue she must have experienced, since the roads

were so rough, and badly washed by the rains. In the evening the town

and chateau were illuminated.

Three days after, on the 30th, the King and Queen of Spain arrived at

Bayonne; and it is impossible to describe the homage which the Emperor

paid them. The Duke Charles de Plaisance went as far as Irun, and the

Prince de Neuchatel even to the banks of the Bidassoa, in order to pay

marked respect to their Catholic Majesties on the part of their powerful

friend; and the king and queen appeared to appreciate highly these marks

of consideration. A detachment of picked troops, superbly uniformed,

awaited them on the frontier, and served as their escort; the garrison of

Bayonne was put under arms, all the buildings of the port were decorated,

all the bells rang, and the batteries of both the citadel and the port

saluted with great salvos. The Prince of the Asturias and his brother,

hearing of the arrival of the king and queen, had left Bayonne in order

to meet their parents, when they encountered, a short distance from the

town, two or three grenadiers who had just left Vittoria, and related to

them the following occurrence:

When their Spanish Majesties entered Vittoria, they found that a

detachment of the Spanish body guards, who had accompanied the Prince of

the Asturias and were stationed in this town, had taken possession of the

palace which the king and queen were to occupy as they passed through,

and on the arrival of their Majesties had put themselves under arms. As

soon as the king perceived this, he said to them in a severe tone, "You

will understand why I ask you to quit my palace. You have failed in your

duty at Aranjuez. I have no need of your services, and I do not wish

them. Go!" These words, pronounced with an energy far from habitual to

Charles IV., met with no reply. The detachment of the guards retired;

and the king begged General Verdier to give him a French guard, much

grieved, he said, that he had not retained his brave riflemen, whose

colonel he still kept near him as captain of the guards.

This news could not give the Prince of the Asturias a high opinion of the

welcome his father had in store for him; and indeed he was very coolly

received, as I shall now relate.

The King and Queen of Spain, on alighting at the governmental palace,

found awaiting them the grand marshal, the Duke de Frioul, who escorted

them to their apartments, and presented to them General Count Reille, the

Emperor's aide-de-camp, performing the duties of governor of the palace;

M. d'Audenarde, equerry, with M. Dumanoir and M. de Baral, chamberlains

charged with the service of honor near their Majesties.

The grandees of Spain whom their Majesties found at Bayonne were the same

who had followed the Prince of the Asturias, and the sight of them, as

may well be imagined, was not pleasant to the king; and when the ceremony

of the kissing of the hand took place, every one perceived the painful

agitation of the unfortunate sovereigns. This ceremony, which consists

of falling on your knees and kissing the hand of the king and queen, was

performed in the deepest silence, as their Majesties spoke to no one but

the Count of Fuentes, who by chance was at Bayonne.

The king hurried over this ceremony, which fatigued him greatly, and

retired with the queen into his apartments, where the Prince of the

Asturias wished to follow them; but his father stopped him at the door,

and raising his arm as if to repulse him, said in a trembling tone,

"Prince, do you wish still to insult my gray hairs?" These words had,

it is said, the effect of a thunderbolt on the prince. He was overcome

by his feelings for a moment, and withdrew without uttering a word.

Very different was the reception their Majesties gave to the Prince de la

Paix

[Manuel Godoi, born at Badajos, 1767. A common soldier, he

became the queen's lover, and the virtual ruler of Spain; died in

Paris, 1851.]

when he joined them at Bayonne, and he might have been taken for the

nearest and dearest relative of their Majesties. All three wept freely

on meeting again; at least, this is what I was told by a person in the

service--the same, in fact, who gave me all the preceding details.

At five o'clock his Majesty the Emperor came to visit the King and Queen

of Spain; and during this interview, which was very long, the two

sovereigns informed his Majesty of the insults they had received, and the

dangers they had encountered during the past month. They complained

greatly of the ingratitude of so many men whom they had overwhelmed with

kindness, and above all of the guard which had so basely betrayed them.

"Your Majesty," said the king, "does not know what it is to be forced to

commiserate yourself on account of your son. May Heaven forbid that such

a misfortune should ever come to you! Mine is the cause of all that we

have suffered."

The Prince de la Paix had come to Bayonne accompanied by Colonel Martes,

aide-de-camp of Prince Murat, and a valet de chambre, the only servant

who had remained faithful to him. I had occasion to talk with this

devoted servant, who spoke very good French, having been reared near

Toulouse; and he told me that he had not succeeded in obtaining

permission to remain with his master during his captivity, and that this

unfortunate prince had suffered indescribable torments; that not a day

passed without some one entering his dungeon to tell him to prepare for

death, as he was to be executed that very evening or the next morning.

He also told me that the prisoners were left sometimes for thirty hours

without food; that he had only a bed of straw, no linen, no books, and no

communication with the outside world; and that when he came out of his

dungeon to be sent to Colonel Marts, he presented a horrible appearance,

with his long beard, and emaciated frame, the result of mental distress

and insufficient food. He had worn the same shirt for a month, as he had

never been able to prevail on his captors to give him others; and his

eyes had been so long unaccustomed to the light that he was obliged to

close them, and felt oppressed in the open air.

On the road from Bayonne, there was handed to the prince a letter from

the king and queen which was stained with tears. The prince said to his

valet de chambre after reading it, "These are the first consoling words I

have received in a month, for every one has abandoned me except my

excellent masters. The body guards, who have betrayed and sold their

king, will also betray and sell his son; and as for myself, I hope for

nothing, except to be permitted to find an asylum in France for my

children and myself." M. Marts having shown him newspapers in which it

was stated that the prince possessed a fortune of five hundred million,

he exclaimed vehemently that it was an atrocious calumny, and he defied

his most cruel enemies to prove that.

As we have seen, their Majesties had not a numerous suite; but they were,

notwithstanding, followed by baggage-wagons filled with furniture, goods,

and valuable articles, and though their carriages were old-fashioned,

they found them very comfortable--especially the king, who was much

embarrassed the day after his arrival at Bayonne, when, having been

invited to dine with the Emperor, it was necessary to enter a modern

carriage with two steps. He did not dare to put his foot on the frail

things, which he feared would break under his weight; and the oscillating

movement of the body of the carriage made him terribly afraid that it

would upset.

At the table I had an opportunity of observing at my leisure the king and

queen. The king was of medium height, and though not strictly handsome

had a pleasant face. His nose was very long, his voice high-pitched and

disagreeable; and he walked with a mincing air in which there was no

majesty, but this, however, I attributed to the gout. He ate heartily of

everything offered him, except vegetables, which he never ate, saying

that grass was good only for cattle; and drank only water, having it

served in two carafes, one containing ice, and poured from both at the

same time. The Emperor gave orders that special attention should be paid

to the dinner, knowing that the king was somewhat of an epicure. He

praised in high terms the French cooking, which he seemed to find much to

his taste; for as each dish was served him, he would say, "Louise, take

some of that, it is good;" which greatly amused the Emperor, whose

abstemiousness is well known.

The queen was fat and short, dressed very badly, and had no style or

grace; her complexion was very florid, and her expression harsh and

severe. She held her head high, spoke very loud, in tones still more

brusque and piercing than those of her husband; but it is generally

conceded that she had more character and better manners than he.

Before dinner that day there was some conversation on the subject of

dress; and the Empress offered the services of M. Duplan, her

hairdresser, in order to give her ladies some lessons in the French

toilet. Her proposition was accepted; and the queen came out soon after

from the hands of M. Duplan, better dressed, no doubt, and her hair

better arranged, but not beautified, however, for the talent of the

hairdresser could not go as far as that.

The Prince of the Asturias, now King Ferdinand VII., made an unpleasant

impression on all, with his heavy step and careworn air, and rarely ever

speaking.

Their Spanish Majesties as before brought with them the Prince de la

Paix, who had not been invited by the Emperor, and whom for this reason

the usher on duty detained outside of the dining-hall. But as they were

about to be seated, the king perceived that the prince was absent. "And

Manuel," said he quickly to the Emperor, "and Manuel, Sire!" Whereupon

the Emperor, smiling, gave the signal, and Don Manuel Godoi was

introduced. I was told that he had been a very handsome man; but he

showed no signs of this, which was perhaps owing to the bad treatment he

had undergone.

After the abdication of the princes, the king and queen, the Queen of

Etruria, and the Infant Don Franciso, left Bayonne for Fontainebleau,

which place the Emperor had selected as their residence while waiting

until the chateau of Compiegne should be put in a condition to make them

comfortable. The Prince of the Asturias left the same day, with his

brother Don Carlos and his uncle Don Antonio, for the estates of Valencay

belonging to the Prince of Benevento. They published, while passing

through Bordeaux, a proclamation to the Spanish people, in which they

confirmed the transmission of all their rights to the Emperor Napoleon.

Thus King Charles, freed from a throne which he had always regarded as a

heavy burden, could hereafter give himself up unreservedly in retirement

to his favorite pursuits. In all the world he cared only for the Prince

de la Paix, confessors, watches, and music; and the throne was nothing to

him. After what had passed, the Prince de la Paix could not return to

Spain; and the king would never have consented to be separated from him,

even if the remembrance of the insults which he had personally received

had not been powerful enough to disgust him with his kingdom. He much

preferred the life of a private individual, and could not be happier than

when allowed without interruption to indulge his simple and tranquil

tastes. On his arrival at the chateau of Fontainebleau, he found there

M. Remusat, the first chamberlain; M. de Caqueray, officer of the hunt;

M. de Lugay, prefect of the palace; and a household already installed.

Mesdames de la Rochefoucault, Duchatel, and de Lugay had been selected by

the Emperor for the service of honor near the queen.

The King of Spain remained at Fontainebleau only until the chateau of

Compiegne could be repaired, and as he soon found the climate of this

part of France too cold for his health, went, at the end of a few months,

to Marseilles with the Queen of Etruria, the Infant Don Francisco, and

the Prince de la Paix. In 1811 he left France for Italy, finding his

health still bad at Marseilles, and chose Rome as his residence.

I spoke above of the fondness of the King of Spain for watches. I have

been told that while at Fontainebleau, he had half a dozen of his watches

worn by his valet de chambre, and wore as many himself, giving as a

reason that pocket watches lose time by not being carried. I have also

heard that he kept his confessor always near him, in the antechamber, or

in the room in front of that in which he worked, and that when he wished

to speak to him he whistled, exactly as one would whistle for a dog. The

confessor never failed to respond promptly to this royal call, and

followed his penitent into the embrasure of a window, in which improvised

confessional the king divulged what he had on his conscience, received

absolution, and sent back the priest until he felt himself obliged to

whistle for him again.

When the health of the king, enfeebled by age and gout, no longer allowed

him to devote himself to the pleasures of the chase, he began playing on

the violin more than ever before, in order, he said, to perfect himself

in it. This was beginning rather late. As is well known, he had for his

first violin teacher the celebrated Alexander Boucher, with whom he

greatly enjoyed playing; but he had a mania for beginning first without

paying any attention to the measure; and if M. Boucher made any

observation in regard to this, his Majesty would reply with the greatest

coolness, "Monsieur, it seems to me that it is not my place to wait for

you."

Between the departure of the royal family and the arrival of Joseph, King

of Naples, the time was passed in reviews and military fetes, which the

Emperor frequently honored with his presence. The 7th of June, King

Joseph arrived at Bayonne, where it had been known long in advance that

his brother had summoned him to exchange his crown of Naples for that of

Spain.

The evening of Joseph's arrival, the Emperor invited the members of the

Spanish Junta, who for fifteen days had been arriving at Bayonne from all

corners of the kingdom, to assemble at the chateau of Marrac, and

congratulate the new king. The deputies accepted this somewhat sudden

invitation without having time to concert together previously any course

of action; and on their arrival at Marrac, the Emperor presented to them

their sovereign, whom they acknowledged, with the exception of some

opposition on the part of the Duke of Infantado, in the name of the

grandees of Spain. The deputations from the Council of Castile, from the

Inquisition, and from the army, etc., submitted most readily. A few days

after, the king formed his ministry, in which all were astonished to find

M. de Cevallos, who had accompanied the Prince of the Asturias to

Bayonne, and had made such a parade of undying attachment to the person

of the one whom he called his unfortunate master; while the Duke of

Infantado, who had opposed to the utmost any recognition of the foreign

monarch, was appointed Captain of the Guard. The king then left for

Madrid, after appointing the Grand Duke of Berg lieutenant-general of the

kingdom.

CHAPTER X.

At this time it was learned at Bayonne that M. de Belloy, Archbishop of

Paris, had just died of a cold, contracted at the age of more than

ninety-eight years. The day after this sad news arrived, the Emperor,

who was sincerely grieved, was dilating upon the great and good qualities

of this venerable prelate, and said that having one day thoughtlessly

remarked to M. de Belloy, then already more than ninety-six years old,

that he would live a century, the good old archbishop had exclaimed,

smiling, "Why, does your Majesty think that I have no more than four

years to live?"

I remember that one of the persons who was present at the Emperor's levee

related the following anecdote concerning M. de Belloy, which seemed to

excite the Emperor's respect and admiration.

The wife of the hangman of Genoa gave birth to a daughter, who could not

be baptized because no one would act as godfather. In vain the father

begged and entreated the few persons whom he knew, in vain he even

offered money; that was an impossibility. The poor child had

consequently remained unbaptized four or five months, though fortunately

her health gave no cause for uneasiness. At last some one mentioned this

singular condition of affairs to the archbishop, who listened to the

story with much interest, inquired why he had not been informed earlier,

and having given orders that the child should be instantly brought to

him, baptized her in his palace, and was himself her godfather.

At the beginning of July the Grand Duke of Berg returned from Spain,

fatigued, ill, and out of humor. He remained there only two or three

days, and held each day an interview with his Majesty, who seemed little

better satisfied with the grand duke than the grand duke was with him,

and left afterwards for the springs of Bareges.

Their Majesties, the Emperor and Empress, left the chateau of Marrac the

20th of July, at six o'clock in the evening. This journey of the Emperor

was one of those which cost the largest number of snuff-boxes set in

diamonds, for his Majesty was not economical with them.

Their Majesties arrived at Pau on the 22d, at ten o'clock in the morning,

and alighted at the chateau of Gelos, situated about a quarter of a

league from the birthplace of the good Henry IV., on the bank of the

river. The day was spent in receptions and horseback excursions, on one

of which the Emperor visited the chateau in which the first king of the

house of Bourbon was reared, and showed how much this visit interested

him, by prolonging it until the dinner-hour.

On the border of the department of the Hautes-Pyrenees, and exactly in

the most desolate and miserable part, was erected an arch of triumph,

which seemed a miracle fallen from heaven in the midst of those plains

uncultivated and burned up by the sun. A guard of honor awaited their

Majesties, ranged around this rural monument, at their head an old

marshal of the camp, M. de Noe, more than eighty years of age. This

worthy old soldier immediately took his place by the side of the

carriage, and as cavalry escort remained on horseback for a day and two

nights without showing the least fatigue.

As we continued our journey, we saw, on the plateau of a small mountain,

a stone pyramid forty or fifty feet high, its four sides covered with

inscriptions to the praise of their Majesties. About thirty children

dressed as mamelukes seemed to guard this monument, which recalled to the

Emperor glorious memories. The moment their Majesties appeared,

balladeers, or dancers, of the country emerged from a neighboring wood,

dressed in the most picturesque costumes, bearing banners of different

colors, and reproducing with remarkable agility and vigor the traditional

dance of the mountaineers of the south.

Near the town of Tarbes was a sham mountain planted with firs, which

opened to let the cortege pass through, surmounted by an imperial eagle

suspended in the air, and holding a banner on which was inscribed--

"He will open our Pyrenees."

On his arrival at Tarbes, the Emperor immediately mounted his horse to

pay a visit to the Grand Duke of Berg, who was ill in one of the suburbs.

We left next day without visiting Bareges and Bagneres, where the most

brilliant preparations had been made to receive their Majesties.

As the Emperor passed through Agen, there was presented to him a brave

fellow named Printemps, over a hundred years old, who had served under

Louis XIV., XV., and XVI., and who, although bending beneath the weight

of many years and burdens, finding himself in the presence of the

Emperor, gently pushed aside two of his grandsons by whom he had been

supported, and exclaimed almost angrily that he could go very well alone.

His Majesty, who was much touched, met him half-way, and most kindly bent

over the old centenarian, who on his knees, his white head uncovered, and

his eyes full of tears, said in trembling tones, "Ah, Sire, I was afraid

I should die without seeing you." The Emperor assisted him to rise, and

conducted him to a chair, in which he placed him with his own hands, and

seated himself beside him on another, which he made signs to hand him.

"I am glad to see you, my dear Printemps, very glad. You have heard from

me lately?" (His Majesty had given this brave man a pension, which his

wife was to inherit after his death.) Printemps put his hand on his

heart, "Yes, I have heard from you." The Emperor took pleasure in making

him speak of his campaigns, and bade him farewell after a long

conversation, handing him at the same time a gift of fifty napoleons.

There was also presented to his Majesty a soldier born at Agen, who had

lost his sight in consequence of the campaign in Egypt. The Emperor gave

him three hundred francs, and promised him a pension, which was

afterwards sent him.

The day after their arrival at Saint-Cloud, the Emperor and Empress went

to Paris in order to be present at the fetes of the 15th of August, which

it is useless to say were magnificent. As soon as he entered the

Tuileries, the Emperor hastened through the chateau to examine the

repairs and improvements which had been made during his absence, and, as

was his habit, criticised more than he praised all that he saw. Looking

out of the hall of the marshals, he demanded of M. de Fleurieu, governor

of the palace, why the top of the arch of triumph on the Carrousel was

covered with a cloth; and his Majesty was told that it was because all

the arrangements had not yet been made for placing his statue in the

chariot to which were attached the Corinthian horses, and also because

the two Victories who were to guide the four horses were not yet

completed. "What!" vehemently exclaimed the Emperor; "but I will not

allow that! I said nothing about it! I did not order it!" Then turning

to M. Fontaine, he continued, "Monsieur Fontaine, was my statue in the

design which was presented to you?"--"No, Sire, it was that of the god

Mars."--"Well, why have you put me in the place of the god of

war?"--"Sire, it was not I, but M. the director-general of the museum."

"The director-general was wrong," interrupted the Emperor impatiently.

"I wish this statue removed; do you hear, Monsieur Fontaine? I wish it

taken away; it is most unsuitable. What! shall I erect statues to

myself! Let the chariot and the Victories be finished; but let the

chariot let the chariot remain empty." The order was executed; and the

statue of the Emperor was taken down and placed in the orangery, and is

perhaps still there. It was made of gilded lead, was a fine piece of

work, and a most excellent likeness.

The Sunday following the Emperor's arrival, his Majesty received at the

Tuileries the Persian ambassador, Asker-Khan; M. Jaubert accompanied him,

and acted as interpreter. This savant, learned in Oriental matters, had

by the Emperor's orders received his excellency on the frontiers of

France, in company with M. Outrey, vice-consul of France at Bagdad.

Later his excellency had a second audience, which took place in state at

the palace of Saint-Cloud.

The ambassador was a very handsome man, tall, with regular features, and

a noble and attractive countenance; his manners were polished and

elegant, especially towards ladies, with even something of French

gallantry. His suite, composed of select personages all magnificently

dressed, comprised, on his departure from Erzeroum, more than three

hundred persons; but the innumerable difficulties encountered on the

journey compelled his excellency to dismiss a large part of his retinue,

and, though thus reduced, this suite was notwithstanding one of the most

numerous ever brought by an ambassador into France. The ambassador and

suite were lodged in the rue de Frejus, in the residence formerly

occupied by Mademoiselle de Conti.

The presents which he brought to the Emperor in the name of his sovereign

were of great value, comprising more than eighty cashmere shawls of all

kinds; a great quantity of fine pearls of various sizes, a few of them

very large; an Eastern bridle, the curb adorned with pearls, turquoise,

emeralds, etc.; and finally the sword of Tamerlane, and that of

Thamas-Kouli-Khan, the former covered with pearls and precious stones,

the second very simply mounted, both having Indian blades of fabulous

value with arabesques of embossed gold.

I took pleasure at the time in inquiring some particulars about this

ambassador. His character was very attractive; and he showed much

consideration and regard for every one who visited him, giving the ladies

attar of roses, the men tobacco, perfumes, and pipes. He took much

pleasure in comparing French jewels with those he had brought from his

own country, and even carried his gallantry so far as to propose to the

ladies certain exchanges, always greatly to their advantage; and a

refusal of these proposals wounded him deeply. When a pretty woman

entered his residence he smiled at first, and heard her speak in a kind

of silent ecstasy; he then devoted his attention to seating her, placed

under her feet cushions and carpets of cashmere (for he had only this

material about him). Even his clothing and bed-coverings were of an

exceedingly fine quality of cashmere. Asker-Khan did not scruple to wash

his face, his beard, and hands in the presence of everybody, seating

himself for this operation in front of a slave, who presented to him on

his knees a porcelain ewer.

The ambassador had a decided taste for the sciences and arts, and was

himself a very learned man. Messieurs Dubois and Loyseau conducted near

his residence an institution which he often visited, especially

preferring to be present at the classes in experimental physics; and the

questions which he propounded by means of his interpreter evinced on his

part a very extensive knowledge of the phenomena of electricity. Those

who traded in curiosities and objects of art liked him exceedingly, since

he bought their wares without much bargaining. However, on one occasion

he wished to purchase a telescope, and sent for a famous optician, who

seized the opportunity to charge him an enormous price. But Asker-Khan

having examined the instrument, with which he was much pleased, said to

the optician, "You have given me your long price, now give me your short

one."

He admired above all the printed calicoes of the manufactures of Jouy,

the texture, designs, and colors of which he thought even superior to

cashmere; and bought several robes to send to Persia as models.

On the day of the Emperor's fete, his Excellency gave in the garden of

his residence an entertainment in the Eastern style, at which the Persian

musicians attached to the embassy executed warlike pieces, astonishing

both for vigor and originality. There were also artificial fireworks,

conspicuous among which were the arms of the Sufi, on which were

represented most ingeniously the cipher of Napoleon.

His Excellency visited the Imperial library, M. Jaubert serving as

interpreter; and the ambassador was overcome with admiration on seeing

the order in which this immense collection of books was kept. He

remained half an hour in the hall of the manuscripts, which he thought

very handsome, and recognized several as being copied by writers of much

renown in Persia. A copy of the Koran struck him most of all; and he

said, while admiring it, that there was not a man in Persia who would not

sell his children to acquire such a treasure.

On leaving, the library, Asker-Khan presented his compliments to the

librarians, and promised to enrich the collection by several precious

manuscripts which he had brought from his own country.

A few days after his presentation, the ambassador went to visit the

Museum, and was much impressed by a portrait of his master, the King of

Persia; and could not sufficiently express his joy and gratitude when

several copies of this picture were presented to him. The historical

pictures, especially the battle-scenes, then engrossed his attention

completely; and he remained at least a quarter of an hour in front of the

one representing the surrender of the city of Vienna.

Having arrived at the end of the gallery of Apollo, Asker-Khan seated

himself to rest, asked for a pipe, and indulged in a smoke; and when he

had finished, rose, and seeing around him many ladies whom curiosity had

attracted, paid them, through M. Jaubert, exceedingly flattering

compliments. Then leaving the Museum, his Excellency went to promenade

in the garden of the Tuileries, where he was soon followed by an immense

crowd. On that day his Excellency bestowed on Prince de Benevento, in

the name of his sovereign, the Grand Order of the Sun, a magnificent

decoration consisting of a diamond sun attached to a cordon of red cloth

covered with pearls.

Asker-Khan made a greater impression at Paris than the Turkish

ambassador. He was generous and more gallant, paid his court with more

address, and conformed more readily to French customs and manners. The

Turk was irascible, austere, and irritable, while the Persian was fond of

and well understood a joke. One day, however, he became red with anger,

and it must be admitted not without good reason.

At a concert given in the apartments of the Empress Josephine,

Asker-Khan, whom the music evidently did not entertain very highly, at

first applauded by ecstatic gestures and rolling his eyes in admiration,

until at last nature overcame politeness, and the ambassador fell sound

asleep. His Excellency's position was not the best for sleeping,

however, as he was standing with his back against the wall, with his

feet braced against a sofa on which a lady was seated. It occurred to

some of the officers of the palace that it would be a good joke to take

away suddenly this point of support, which they accomplished with all

ease by simply beginning a conversation with the lady on the sofa, who

rising suddenly, the seat slipped over the floor; his Excellency's feet

followed this movement, and the ambassador, suddenly deprived of the

weight which had balanced him, extended his length on the floor. On

this rude awakening, he tried to stop himself in his fall by clutching

at his neighbors, the furniture, and the curtains, uttering at the same

time frightful screams. The officers who had played this cruel joke upon

him begged him, with the most ridiculously serious air, to place himself

on a stationary chair in order to avoid the recurrence of such an

accident; while the lady who had been made the accomplice in this

practical joke, with much difficulty stifled her laughter, and his

Excellency was consumed with an anger which he could express only in

looks and gestures.

Another adventure of Asker-Khan's was long a subject of conversation, and

furnished much amusement. Having felt unwell for several days, he

thought that French medicine might cure him more quickly than Persian; so

he sent for M. Bourdois, a most skillful physician whose name he well

knew, having taken care to acquaint himself with all our celebrities of

every kind. The ambassador's orders were promptly executed; but by a

singular mistake it was not Dr. Bourdois who was requested to visit

Asker-Khan, but the president of the Court of Accounts, M. Marbois, who

was much astonished at the honor the Persian ambassador did him, not

being able to comprehend what connection there could be between them.

Nevertheless, he repaired promptly to Asker-Khan, who could scarcely

believe that the severe costume of the president of the Court of Accounts

was that of a physician. No sooner had M. Marbois entered than the

ambassador held out his hand and stuck out his tongue, regarding him very

attentively. M. Marbois was a little surprised at this welcome; but

thinking it was doubtless the Oriental manner of saluting magistrates, he

bowed profoundly, and timidly pressed the hand presented to him, and he

was in this respectful position when four of the servants of the

ambassador brought a vessel with unequivocal signs. M. Marbois

recognized the use of it with a surprise and indignation that could not

be expressed, and drew back angrily, inquiring what all this meant.

Hearing himself called doctor, "What!" cried he, "M. le Docteur!"--

"Why; yes; le Docteur Bourdois!" M. Marbois was enlightened. The

similarity between the sound of his name and that of the doctor had

exposed him to this disagreeable visit.

CHAPTER XI.

The day preceding the Emperor's fete, or the day following, the colossal

bronze statue which was to be placed on the monument in the Place Vendome

was removed from the studio of M. Launay. The brewers of the Faubourg

Saint-Antoine offered their handsomest horses to draw the chariot on

which the statue was carried, and twelve were selected, one from each

brewer; and as their masters requested the privilege of riding them,

nothing could be more singular than this cortege, which arrived on the

Place Vendome at five o'clock in the evening, followed by an immense

crowd, amid cries of "Vive l'Empereur." A few days before his Majesty's

departure for Erfurt, the Emperor with the Empress and their households

played prisoner's base for the last time. It was in the evening; and

footmen bore lighted torches, and followed the players when they went

beyond the reach of the light. The Emperor fell once while trying to

catch the Empress, and was taken prisoner; but he soon broke bounds and

began to run again, and when he was free, carried off Josephine in spite

of the protests of the players; and thus ended the last game of

prisoner's base that I ever saw the Emperor play.

It had been decided that the Emperor Alexander and the Emperor Napoleon

should meet at Erfurt on the 27th of September; and most of the

sovereigns forming the Confederation of the Rhine had been invited to be

present at this interview, which it was intended should be both

magnificent and imposing. Consequently the Duke of Frioul, grand marshal

of the palace, sent M. de Canouville, marshal of lodgings of the palace,

M. de Beausset, prefect of the palace, and two quartermasters to prepare

at Erfurt lodgings for all these illustrious visitors, and to organize

the grand marshal's service.

The government palace was chosen for the Emperor Napoleon's lodgings, as

on account of its size it perfectly suited the Emperor's intention of

holding his court there; for the Emperor Alexander, the residence of M.

Triebel was prepared, the handsomest in the town; and for S. A. L, the

Grand Duke Constantine, that of Senator Remann. Other residences were

reserved for the Princes of the Confederation and the persons of their

suite; and a detachment of all branches of the service of the Imperial

household was established in each of these different lodgings.

There had been sent from the storehouse of the crown a large quantity of

magnificent furniture, carpets and tapestry, both Gobelin and la

Savonnerie; bronzes, lusters, candelabras, girondoles, Sevres china; in

fine, everything which could contribute to the luxurious furnishing of

the two Imperial palaces, and those which were to be occupied by the

other sovereigns; and a crowd of workmen came from Paris. General

Oudinot was appointed Governor of Erfurt, and had under his orders the

First regiment of hussars, the Sixth of cuirassiers, and the Seventeenth

of light infantry, which the major-general had appointed to compose the

garrison. Twenty select police, with a battalion chosen from the finest

grenadiers of the guard, were put on duty at the Imperial palaces.

The Emperor, who sought by every means to render this interview at Erfurt

as agreeable as possible to the sovereigns for whom he had conceived an

affection at Tilsit, wished to have the masterpieces of the French stage

played in their honor. This was the amusement most worthy of them that

he could procure, so he gave orders that the theater should be

embellished and repaired. M. Dazincourt was appointed director of the

theater, and set out from Paris with Messieurs Talma, Lafon, Saint-Prix,

Damas, Despres, Varennes, Lacave; Mesdames Duchesnoir, Raucourt, Talma,

Bourgoin, Rose Dupuis, Grosand, and Patrat; and everything was in order

before the arrival of the sovereigns.

Napoleon disliked Madame Talma exceedingly, although she displayed most

remarkable talent, and this aversion was well known, although I could

never discover the cause; and no one was willing to be first to place her

name on the list of those selected to go to Erfurt, but M. Talma made so

many entreaties that at last consent was given. And then occurred what

everybody except M. Talma and his wife had foreseen, that the Emperor,

having seen her play once, was much provoked that she had been allowed to

come, and had her name struck from the list.

Mademoiselle Bourgoin, who was at that time young and extremely pretty,

had at first more success; but it was necessary, in order to accomplish

this, that she should conduct herself differently from Madame Talma. As

soon as she appeared at the theater of Erfurt she excited the admiration,

and became the object of the attentions, of all the illustrious

spectators; and this marked preference gave rise to jealousies, which

delighted her greatly, and which she increased to the utmost of her

ability by every means in her power. When she was not playing, she took

her seat in the theater magnificently dressed, whereupon all looks were

bent on her, and distracted from the stage, to the very great displeasure

of the actors, until the Emperor at last perceived these frequent

distractions, and put an end to them by forbidding Mademoiselle Bourgoin

to appear in the theater except on the stage.

This measure, which was very wisely taken by his Majesty, put him in the

bad graces of Mademoiselle Bourgoin; and another incident added still

more to the displeasure of the actress. The two sovereigns attended the

theater together almost every evening, and the Emperor Alexander thought

Mademoiselle Bourgoin charming. She was aware of this, and tried by

every means to increase the monarch's devotion. One day at last the

amorous Czar confided to the Emperor his feelings for Mademoiselle

Bourgoin. "I do not advise you to make any advances," said the Emperor

Napoleon. "You think that she would refuse me?"--"Oh, no; but to-morrow

is the day for the post, and in five days all Paris would know all about

your Majesty from head to foot." These words singularly cooled the ardor

of the autocrat, who thanked the Emperor for his advice, and said to him,

"But from the manner in which your Majesty speaks, I should be tempted to

believe that you bear this charming actress some ill-will."--"No, in

truth," replied the Emperor, "I do not know anything about her." This

conversation took place in his bedroom during the toilet. Alexander left

his Majesty perfectly convinced, and Mademoiselle Bourgoin ceased her

ogling and her assurance.

His Majesty made his entrance into Erfurt on the morning of the 27th of

September, 1808. The King of Saxony, who had arrived first, followed by

the Count de Marcolini, the Count de Haag, and the Count de Boze, awaited

the Emperor at the foot of the stairs in the governor's palace; after

them came the members of the Regency and the municipality of Erfurt, who

congratulated him in the usual form. After a short rest, the Emperor

mounted his horse, and left Erfurt by the gate of Weimar, making, in

passing, a visit to the King of Saxony, and found outside the city the

whole garrison arranged in line of battle,--the grenadiers of the guard

commanded by M. d'Arquies; the First regiment of hussars by M. de Juniac;

the Seventeenth infantry by M. de Cabannes-Puymisson; and the Sixth

cuirassiers, the finest body of men imaginable, by Colonel

d'Haugeranville. The Emperor reviewed these troops, ordered a change in

some dispositions, and then continued on his way to meet the Emperor

Alexander.

The latter had set out from Saint Petersburg on the 17th of September;

and the King and Queen of Prussia awaited him at Koenigsberg, where he

arrived on the 18th. The Duke of Montebello had the honor of receiving

him at Bromberg amid a salute of twenty-one cannon. Alighting from his

carriage, the Emperor Alexander mounted his horse, accompanied by the

Marshals of the Empire, Soult, Duke of Dalmatia, and Lannes, Duke of

Montebello, and set off at a gallop to meet the Nansouty division, which

awaited him arranged in line of battle. He was welcomed by a new salute,

and by oft repeated cries of "Long live the Emperor Alexander." The

monarch, while reviewing the different corps which formed this fine

division, said to the officers, "I think it a great honor, messieurs, to

be amongst such brave men and splendid soldiers."

By orders of Marshal Soult, who simply executed those given by Napoleon,

relays of the post had been arranged on all the roads which the Monarch

of the North would pass over, and they were forbidden to receive any

compensation. At each relay were escorts of dragoons or light cavalry,

who rendered military honors to the Czar as he passed.

After having dined with the generals of the Nansouty division, the

Emperor of Russia re-entered his carriage, a barouche with two seats, and

seated the Duke of Montebello beside him, who afterwards told me with how

many marks of esteem and kind feeling the Emperor overwhelmed him during

the journey, even arranging the marshal's cloak around his shoulders

while he was asleep.

His Imperial Russian Majesty arrived at Weimar the evening of the 26th,

and next day continued his journey to Erfurt, escorted by Marshal Soult,

his staff, and the superior officers of the Nansouty division, who had

not left him since he had started from Bromberg, and met Napoleon a

league and a half from Erfurt, to which place the latter had come on

horseback for this purpose.

The moment the Czar perceived the Emperor, he left his carriage, and

advanced towards his Majesty, who had also alighted from his horse. They

embraced each other with the affection of two college friends who meet

again after a long absence; then both mounted their horses, as did also

the Grand Duke Constantine, and passing at a gallop in front of the

regiments, all of which presented arms at their approach, entered the

town, while the troops, with an immense crowd collected from twenty

leagues around, made the air resound with their acclamations. The

Emperor of Russia wore on entering Erfurt the grand decoration of the

Legion of Honor, and the Emperor of the French that of Saint Andrew of

Russia; and the two sovereigns during their stay continued to show each

other these marks of mutual deference, and it was also remarked that in

his palace the Emperor always gave the right to Alexander. On the

evening of his arrival, by his Majesty's invitation, Alexander gave the

countersign to the grand marshal, and it was afterwards given alternately

by the two sovereigns.

They went first to the palace of Russia, where they remained an hour; and

later, when Alexander came to return the visit of the Emperor, he

received him at the foot of the staircase, and accompanied him when he

left as far as the entrance of the grand hall. At six o'clock the two

sovereigns dined at his Majesty's residence, and it was the same each

day. At nine o'clock the Emperor escorted the Emperor of Russia to his

palace; and they then held a private conversation, which continued more

than an hour, and in the evening the whole city was illuminated. The day

after his arrival the Emperor received at his levee the officers of the

Czar's household, and granted them the grand entry during the rest of

their Stay.

The two sovereigns gave to each other proofs of the most sincere

friendship and most confidential intimacy. The Emperor Alexander almost

every morning entered his Majesty's bedroom, and conversed freely with

him. One day he was examining the Emperor's dressing-case in silver

gilt, which cost six thousand francs, and was most conveniently arranged

and beautifully carved by the goldsmith Biennais, and admired it

exceedingly. As soon as he had gone, the Emperor ordered me to have a

dressing-case sent to the Czar's palace exactly similar to that which had

just been received from Paris.

Another time the Emperor Alexander remarked on the elegance and

durability of his Majesty's iron bedstead; and the very next day by his

Majesty's orders, conveyed by me, an exactly similar bed was set up in

the room of the Emperor of Russia, who was delighted with these polite

attentions, and two days after, as an evidence of his satisfaction,

ordered M. de Remusat to hand me two handsome diamond rings.

The Czar one day made his toilet in the Emperor's room, and I assisted.

I took from the Emperor's linen a white cravat and cambric handkerchief,

which I handed him, and for which he thanked me most graciously; he was

an exceedingly gentle, good, amiable prince, and extremely polite.

There was an exchange of presents between these illustrious sovereigns.

Alexander made the Emperor a present of three superb pelisses of

martin-sable, one of which the Emperor gave to his sister Pauline,

another to the Princess de Ponte-Corvo; and the third he had lined with

green velvet and ornamented with gold lace, and it was this cloak which

he constantly wore in Russia. The history of the one which I carried

from him to the Princess Pauline is singular enough to be related here,

although it may have been already told.

The Princess Pauline showed much pleasure in receiving the Emperor's

present, and enjoyed displaying her cloak for the admiration of the

household. One day, when she was in the midst of a circle of ladies, to

whom she was dilating on the quality and excellence of this fur, M. de

Canouville arrived, and the princess asked his opinion of the present she

had received from the Emperor. The handsome colonel not appearing as

much struck with admiration as she expected, she was somewhat piqued, and

exclaimed, "What, monsieur, you do not think it exquisite?"--

"No, madame."--"In order to punish you I wish you to keep this cloak; I

give it to you, and require you to wear it; I wish it, you understand."

It is probable that there had been some disagreement between her Imperial

highness and her protege, and the princess had seized the first means of

establishing peace; but however that may be, M. de Canouville needed

little entreaty, and the rich fur was carried to his house. A few days

after, while the Emperor was holding a review on the Place du Carrousel,

M, de Canouville appeared on an unruly horse, which he had great

difficulty in controlling. This caused some confusion, and attracted his

Majesty's attention, who, glancing at M. de Canouville, saw the cloak

which he had given his sister metamorphosed into a hussar's cape. The

Emperor had great difficulty in controlling his anger. "M. de

Canouville," he cried, in a voice of thunder, "your horse is young, and

his blood is too warm; you will go and cool it in Russia." Three days

after M. de Canouville had left Paris.

CHAPTER XII.

The Emperor Alexander never tired of showing his regard for actors by

presents and compliments; and as for actresses, I have told before how

far he would have gone with one of them if Napoleon had not deterred.

him. Each day the Grand Duke Constantine got up parties of pleasure with

Murat and other distinguished persons, at which no expense was spared,

and some of these ladies did the honors. And what furs and diamonds they

carried away from Erfurt! The two Emperors were not ignorant of all

this, and were much amused thereby; and it was the favorite subject of

conversation in the morning. Constantine had conceived an especial

affection for King Jerome; the king even carried his affection so far as

to 'tutoy' him, and wished him to do the same. "Is it because I am a

king," he said one day, "that you are afraid to say thou to me? Come,

now, is there any need of formality between friends?" They performed all

sorts of college pranks together, even running through the streets at

night, knocking and ringing at every door, much delighted when they had

waked up some honest bourgeois. As the Emperor was leaving, King Jerome

said to the grand duke: "Come, tell me what you wish me to send you from

Paris."--"Nothing whatever," replied the grand duke; "your brother has

presented me with a magnificent sword; I am satisfied, and desire nothing

more."--"But I wish to send you something, so tell me what would give you

pleasure."--"Well, send me six demoiselles from the Palais Royal."

The play at Erfurt usually began at seven o'clock; but the two Emperors,

who always came together, never arrived till half-past seven. At their

entrance, all the pit of kings rose to do them honor, and the first piece

immediately commenced.

At the representation of Cinna, the Emperor feared that the Czar, who was

placed by his side in a box facing the stage, and on the first tier,

might not hear very well, as he was somewhat deaf; and consequently gave

orders to M. de Remusat, first chamberlain, that a platform should be

raised on the floor of the orchestra, and armchairs placed there for

Alexander and himself; and on the right and left four handsomely

decorated chairs for the King of Saxony and the other sovereigns of the

Confederation, while the princes took possession of the box abandoned by

their Majesties. By this arrangement the two Emperors found themselves

in such a conspicuous position that it was impossible for them to make a

movement without being seen by every one. On the 3d of October AEdipus

was presented. "All the sovereigns," as the Emperor called them, were

present at this representation; and just as the actor pronounced these

words in the first scene:

"The friendship of a great man is a gift from the gods:"

the Czar arose, and held out his hand with much grace to the Emperor; and

immediately acclamations, which the presence of the sovereigns could not

restrain, burst forth from every part of the hall.

On the evening of this same day I prepared the Emperor for bed as usual.

All the doors which opened into his sleeping-room were carefully closed,

as well as the shutters and windows; and there was consequently no means

of entering his Majesty's room except through the chamber in which I

slept with Roustan, and a sentinel was also stationed at the foot of the

staircase. Every night I slept very calmly, knowing that it was

impossible any one could reach Napoleon without waking me; but that

night, about two o'clock, while I was sleeping soundly, a strange noise

woke me with a start. I rubbed my eyes, and listened with the greatest

attention, and, hearing nothing whatever, thought this noise the illusion

of a dream, and was just dropping to sleep again, when my ear was struck

by low, smothered screams, such as a man might utter who was being

strangled. I heard them repeated twice, and in an instant was sitting up

straight in bed, my hair on end, and my limbs covered with a cold sweat.

Suddenly it occurred to me that the Emperor was being assassinated, and

I sprang out of bed and woke Roustan; and as the cries now recommenced

with added intensity, I opened the door as cautiously as my agitation

allowed, and entered the sleeping-room, and with a hasty glance assured

myself that no one could have entered. On advancing towards the bed, I

perceived his Majesty extended across it, in a position denoting great

agony, the drapery and bed-covering thrown off, and his whole body in a

frightful condition of nervous contraction. From his open mouth escaped

inarticulate sounds, his breathing appeared greatly oppressed, and one of

his hands, tightly clinched, lay on the pit of his stomach. I was

terrified at the sight, and called him. He did not reply; again, once,

twice even, still no reply. At last I concluded to shake him gently; and

at this the Emperor awoke with a loud cry, saying, "What is it? What is

it?" then sat up and opened his eyes wide; upon which I told him that,

seeing him tormented with a horrible nightmare, I had taken the liberty

of waking him. "And you did well, my dear Constant," interrupted his

Majesty. "Ah, my friend, I have had a frightful dream; a bear was

tearing open my breast, and devouring my heart!" Thereupon the Emperor

rose, and, while I put his bed in order, walked about the room. He was

obliged to change his shirt, which was wet with perspiration, and at

length again retired.

The next day, when he woke, he told me that it was long before he could

fall to sleep again, so vivid and terrible was the impression made on

him. He long retained the memory of this dream, and often spoke of it,

each time trying to draw from it different conclusions, according to

circumstances.

As to myself, I avow I was struck with the coincidence of the compliment

of Alexander at the theater and this frightful nightmare, especially as

the Emperor was not subject to disturbances of this kind. I do not know

whether his Majesty related his dream to the Emperor of Russia.

On the 6th of October their Majesties attended a hunting-party which the

Grand Duke of Weimar prepared for them in the forest of Ettersbourg. The

Emperor set out from Erfurt at noon, with the Emperor of Russia in the

same coach. They arrived in the forest at one o'clock, and found

prepared for them a hunting-pavilion, which had been erected expressly

for this occasion, and was very handsomely decorated. This pavilion was

divided into three parts, separated by open columns; that in the middle,

raised higher than the others, formed a pretty room, arranged and

furnished for the two Emperors. Around the pavilion were placed numerous

orchestras, which played inspiriting airs, with which were mingled the

acclamations of an immense crowd, who had been attracted by a desire to

see the Emperor.

The two sovereigns were received on their descent from their carriage by

the Grand Duke of Weimar and his son, the hereditary prince, Charles

Frederic; while the King of Bavaria, King of Saxony, King of Wurtemberg,

Prince William of Prussia, the Princes of Mecklenburg, the Prince

Primate, and the Duke of Oldenburg awaited them at the entrance to the

saloon.

The Emperor had in his suite the Prince of Neuchatel; the Prince of

Benevento; the grand marshal of the palace, Duke de Frioul; General

Caulaincourt, Duke of Vicenza; the Duke of Rovigo; General Lauriston, his

Majesty's aide-de-camp; General Nansouty, first equerry; the chamberlain,

Eugene de Montesquiou; the Count de Beausset, prefect of the palace; and

M. Cavaletti.

The Emperor of Russia was accompanied by the Grand Duke Constantine; the

Count Tolstoi, grand marshal; and Count Oggeroski, aide-de-camp to his

Majesty.

The hunt lasted nearly two hours, during which time about sixty stags and

roebucks were killed. The space in which these poor animals had to run

was inclosed by netting, in order that the monarchs might shoot them at

pleasure, without disturbing themselves while seated in the windows of

the pavilion. I have never seen anything more absurd than hunts of this

sort, which, nevertheless, give those who engage in them a reputation as

fine shots. What skill is there in killing an animal which the

gamekeepers, so to speak, take by the ears and place in front of your

gun.

The Emperor of Russia was near-sighted, and this infirmity had deterred

him from an amusement which he would have enjoyed very much; but that

day, however, he wished to make the attempt, and, having expressed this.

wish, the Duke of Montebello handed him a gun, and M. de Beauterne had

the honor of giving the Emperor his first lesson. A stag was driven so

as to pass within about eight steps of Alexander, who brought him down at

the first shot.

After the hunt their Majesties repaired to the palace of Weimar; and the

reigning duchess received them, as they alighted from their carriages,

accompanied by her whole court. The Emperor saluted the duchess

affectionately, remembering that he had seen her two years before under

very different circumstances, which I mentioned in its place.

The Duke of Weimar had requested from the grand marshal French cooks to

prepare the Emperor's dinner, but the Emperor preferred being served in

the German style.

Their Majesties invited to dine with them the Duke and Duchess of Weimar,

the Queen of Westphalia, the King of Wurtemberg, the King of Saxony, the

Grand Duke Constantine, Prince William of Prussia, the Prince Primate,

the Prince of Neuchatel, Prince Talleyrand, the Duke of Oldenburg, the

hereditary Prince of Weimar, and the Prince of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

After this dinner there was a play, followed by a ball, the play being at

the town theater, where the ordinary comedians of his Majesty presented

the death of Caesar; and the ball, at the ducal palace. The Emperor

Alexander opened the ball with the Queen of Westphalia, to the great

astonishment of every one; for it was well known that this monarch had

never danced since his accession to the throne, conduct which the older

men of the court thought very praiseworthy, holding the opinion that a

sovereign occupies too high a place to share in the tastes and take

pleasure in amusements common to the rest of mankind. Except this,

however, there was nothing in the ball of Weimar to scandalize them, as

they did not dance, but promenaded in couples, whilst the orchestra

played marches.

The morning of the next day their Majesties entered carriages to visit

Mount Napoleon, near Jena, where a splendid breakfast was prepared for

them under a tent which the Duke of Weimar had erected on the identical

spot where the Emperor's bivouac stood on the day of the battle of Jena.

After breakfast the two Emperors ascended a temporary pavilion which had

been erected on Mount Napoleon; this pavilion, which was very large, had

been decorated with plans of the battle. A deputation from the town and

university of Jena arrived, and were received by their Majesties; and the

Emperor inquired of the deputies the most minute particulars relating to

their town, its resources, and the manners and character of its

inhabitants; questioned them on the approximate damages which the

military hospital, which had been so long left with them, had caused the

inhabitants of Jena; inquired the names of those who had suffered most

from fire and war, and gave orders that a gratuity should be distributed

among them, and the small proprietors entirely indemnified. His Majesty

informed himself with much interest of the condition of the Catholic

worship, and promised to endow the vicarage in perpetuity, granting three

hundred thousand francs for immediate necessities, and promising to give

still more.

After having visited, on horseback, the positions which the two armies

had held the evening before, and on the day of, the battle of Jena, as

well as the plain of Aspolda, on which the duke had prepared a hunt with

guns, the two Emperors returned to Erfurt, which they reached at five

o'clock in the evening, almost at the very moment the grand hereditary

duke of Baden and the Princess Stephanie arrived.

During the entire visit of the sovereigns to the battlefield, the Emperor

most graciously made explanations to the young Czar, to which he listened

with the greatest interest. His Majesty seemed to take pleasure in

explaining at length, first, the plan which he had formed and carried out

at Jena, and afterwards the various plans of his other campaigns, the

maneuvers which he had executed, his usual tactics, and, in fine, his

whole ideas on the art of war. The Emperor thus, for several hours,

carried on the whole conversation alone; and his royal audience paid him

as much attention as scholars, eager to learn, pay to the instructions of

their teacher.

When his Majesty returned to his apartment, I heard Marshal Berthier say

to him, "Sire, are you not afraid that the sovereigns may some day use to

advantage against you all that you have just taught them? Your Majesty

just now seemed to forget what you formerly told us, that it is necessary

to act with our allies as if they were afterwards to be our enemies."--

"Berthier," replied the Emperor, smiling, "that is a good observation on

your part, and I thank you for it; I really believe I have made you think

I was an idiot. You think, then," continued his Majesty, pinching

sharply one of the Prince de Neuchatel's ears, "that I committed the

indiscretion of giving them whips with which to return and flog us? Calm

yourself, I did not tell them all."

The Emperor's table at Erfurt was in the form of a half-moon; and at the

upper end, and consequently at the rounded part, of this table their

Majesties were seated, and on the right and left the sovereigns of the

Confederation according to their rank. The side facing their Majesties

was always empty; and there stood M. de Beausset, the prefect of the

palace, who relates in his Memoirs that one day he overheard the

following conversation:

"On that day the subject of conversation was the Golden Bull, which,

until the establishment of the Confederation of the Rhine, had

served as a constitution, and had regulated the law for the election

of emperors, the number and rank of the electors, etc. The Prince

Primate entered into some details regarding this Golden Bull, which

he said was made in 1409; whereupon the Emperor Napoleon pointed out

to him that the date which was assigned to the Golden Bull was not

correct, and that it was proclaimed in 1336, during the reign of the

Emperor Charles IV. 'That is true, Sire,' replied the Prince

Primate I was mistaken; but how does it happen that your Majesty is

so well acquainted with these matters?'--'When I was a mere

sub-lieutenant in the artillery, said Napoleon,--at this beginning,

there was on the part of the guests a marked movement of interest,

and he continued, smiling,--when I had the honor to be simply

sub-lieutenant in the artillery I remained three years in the garrison

at Valence, and, as I cared little for society, led a very retired

life. By fortunate chance I had lodgings with a kind and

intelligent bookseller. I read and re-read his library during the

three years I remained in the garrison and have forgotten nothing,

even matters which have had no connection with my position. Nature,

besides, has given me a good memory for figures, and it often

happens with my ministers that I can give them details and the sum

total of accounts they presented long since.'"

A few days before his departure from Erfurt, the Emperor bestowed the

cross of the Legion of Honor on M. de Bigi, commandant of arms at this

place; M. Vegel, burgomaster of Jena; Messrs. Weiland and Goethe; M.

Starlk, senior physician at Jena. He gave to General Count Tolstoi,

ambassador from Russia, who had been recalled from this post by his

sovereign to take a command in the army, the grand decoration of the

Legion of Honor; to M. the dean Meimung, who had said mass twice at the

palace, a ring of brilliants, with the cipher N surmounted by a crown;

and a hundred napoleons to the two priests who had assisted him; finally,

to the grand marshal of the palace, Count Tolstoi, the beautiful Gobelin

tapestry, Savonnerie carpets, and Sevres porcelain, which had been

brought from Paris to furnish the palace of Erfurt. The minister's grand

officers, and officers of Alexander's suite, received from his Majesty

magnificent presents; and the Emperor Alexander did likewise in regard to

the persons attached to his Majesty. He gave the Duke of Vicenza the

grand cordon of Saint Andrew, and a badge of the same order set in

diamonds to the Princes of Benevento and Neuchatel.

Charmed by the talent of the French comedians, especially that of Talma,

the Emperor Alexander sent very handsome presents to her as well as all

her companions; he sent compliments to the actresses, and to the

director, M. Dazincourt, whom he did not forget in his distribution of

gifts.

This interview at Erfurt, which was so brilliant with illuminations,

splendor, and luxury, ended on the 14th of October; and all the great

personages whom it had attracted left between the 8th and the 14th of

October.

The day of his departure the Emperor gave an audience, after his toilet,

to Baron Vincent, envoy extraordinary of Austria, and sent by him a

letter to his sovereign. At eleven o'clock the Emperor of Russia came to

his Majesty, who received him, and reconducted him to his residence with

great ceremony; and soon after his Majesty repaired to the Russian

palace, followed by his whole suite. After mutual compliments they

entered the carriage together, and did not part till they reached the

spot on the road from Weimar where they had met on their arrival. There

they embraced each other affectionately and separated; and the 18th of

October, at half-past nine in the evening, the Emperor was at

Saint-Cloud, having made the whole trip incognito.

CHAPTER XIII.

His Majesty remained only ten days at Saint-Cloud, passed two or three of

these in Paris at the opening of the session of the Corps Legislatif, and

at noon on the 29th set out a second time for Bayonne.

The Empress, who to her great chagrin could not accompany the Emperor,

sent for me on the morning of his departure, and renewed in most touching

accents the same recommendations which she made on all his journeys, for

the character of the Spaniards made her timid and fearful as to his

safety.

Their parting was sad and painful; for the Empress was exceedingly

anxious to accompany him, and the Emperor had the greatest difficulty in

satisfying her, and making her understand that this was impossible. Just

as he was setting out he returned to his dressing-room a moment, and told

me to unbutton his coat and vest; and I saw the Emperor pass around his

neck between his vest and shirt a black silk ribbon on which was hung a

kind of little bag about the size of a large hazel-nut, covered with

black silk. Though I did not then know what this bag contained, when he

returned to Paris he gave it to me to keep; and I found that this bag had

a pleasant feeling, as under the silk covering was another of skin. I

shall hereafter tell for what purpose the Emperor wore this bag.

I set out with a sad heart. The recommendations of her Majesty the

Empress, and fears which I could not throw off, added to the fatigue of

these repeated journeys, all conspired to produce feelings of intense

sadness, which was reflected on almost all the countenances of the

Imperial household; while the officers said among themselves that the

combats in the North were trifling compared with those which awaited us

in Spain.

We arrived on the 3d of November at the chateau of Marrac, and four days

after were at Vittoria in the midst of the French army, where the Emperor

found his brother and a few grandees of Spain who had not yet deserted

his cause.

The arrival of his Majesty electrified the troops; and a part of the

enthusiasm manifested, a very small part it is true, penetrated into the

heart of the king, and somewhat renewed his courage. They set out almost

immediately, in order to at once establish themselves temporarily at

Burgos, which had been seized by main force and pillaged in a few hours,

since the inhabitants had abandoned it, and left to the garrison the task

of stopping the French as long as possible.

The Emperor occupied the archiepiscopal palace, a magnificent building

situated in a large square on which the grenadiers of the Imperial Guard

bivouacked. This bivouac presented a singular scene. Immense kettles,

which had been found in the convents, hung, full of mutton, poultry,

rabbits, etc., above a fire which was replenished from time to time with

furniture, guitars, or mandolins, and around which grenadiers, with pipes

in their mouths, were gravely seated in gilded chairs covered with

crimson damask, while they intently watched the kettles as they simmered,

and communicated to each other their conjectures on the campaign which

had just opened.

The Emperor remained ten or twelve days at Burgos, and then gave orders

to march on Madrid, which place could have been reached by way of

Valladolid, and the road was indeed safer and better; but the Emperor

wished to seize the Pass of Somo-Sierra, an imposing position with

natural fortifications which had always been regarded as impregnable.

This pass, between two mountain peaks, defended the capital, and was

guarded by twelve thousand insurgents, and twelve pieces of cannon placed

so advantageously that they could do as much injury as thirty or forty

elsewhere, and were, in fact, a sufficient obstacle to delay even the

most formidable army; but who could then oppose any hindrance to the

march of the Emperor?

On the evening of the 29th of November we arrived within three leagues of

this formidable defile, at a village called Basaguillas; and though the

weather was very cold, the Emperor did not lie down, but passed the night

in his tent, writing, wrapped in the pelisse which the Emperor Alexander

had given him. About three o'clock in the morning he came to warm

himself by the bivouac fire where I had seated myself, as I could no

longer endure the cold and dampness of a cellar which had been assigned

as my lodging, and where my bed was only a few handfuls of straw, filled

with manure.

At eight o'clock in the morning the position was attacked and carried,

and the next day we arrived before Madrid.

The Emperor established his headquarters at the chateau of Champ-Martin,

a pleasure house situated a quarter of a league from the town, and

belonging to the mother of the Duke of Infantado; and the army camped

around this house. The day after our arrival, the owner came in tears to

entreat of his Majesty a revocation of the fatal decree which put her son

outside the protection of the law; the Emperor did all he could to

reassure her, but he could promise her nothing, as the order was general.

We had some trouble in capturing this town; in the first place, because

his Majesty recommended the greatest moderation in making the attack, not

wishing, as he said, to present to his brother a burned-up city; in the

second place, because the Grand Duke of Berg during his stay at Madrid

had fortified the palace of Retiro, and the Spanish insurgents had

intrenched themselves there, and defended it most courageously. The town

had no other defense, and was surrounded only by an old wall, almost

exactly similar to that of Paris, consequently at the end of three days

it was taken; but the Emperor preferred not to enter, and still resided

at Champ-Martin, with the exception of one day when he came incognito and

in disguise, to visit the queen's palace and the principal districts.

One striking peculiarity of the Spaniards is the respect they have always

shown for everything relating to royalty, whether they regard it as

legitimate or not. When King Joseph left Madrid the palace was closed,

and the government established itself in a passably good building which

had been used as the post-office. From this time no one entered the

palace except the servants, who had orders to clean it from time to time;

not a piece of furniture even, not a book, was moved. The portrait of

Napoleon on Mont St. Bernard, David's masterpiece, remained hanging in

the grand reception hall, and the queen's portrait opposite, exactly as

the king had placed them; and even the cellars were religiously

respected. The apartments of King Charles had also remained untouched,

and not one of the watches in his immense collection had been removed.

The act of clemency which his Majesty showed toward the Marquis of

Saint-Simon, a grandee of Spain, marked in an especial manner the

entrance of the French troops into Madrid. The Marquis of Saint-Simon,

a French emigrant, had been in the service of Spain since the

emigration, and had the command of a part of the capital. The post

which he defended was exactly in front of that which the Emperor

commanded at the gates of Madrid, and he had held out long after all the

other leaders had surrendered.

The Emperor, impatient at being so long withstood at this point, gave

orders to make a still more vigorous charge; and in this the marquis was

taken prisoner. In his extreme anger the Emperor sent him to be tried

before a military commission, who ordered him to be shot; and this order

was on the point of being executed, when Mademoiselle de Saint-Simon, a

charming young person, threw herself at his Majesty's feet, and her

father's pardon was quickly granted.

The king immediately re-entered his capital; and with him returned the

noble families of Madrid, who had withdrawn from the stirring scenes

enacted at the center of the insurrection; and soon balls, fetes,

festivities, and plays were resumed as of yore.

The Emperor left Champ-Martin on the 22d of December, and directed his

march towards Astorga, with the intention of meeting the English, who had

just landed at Corunna; but dispatches sent to Astorga by a courier from

Paris decided him to return to France, and he consequently gave orders to

set out for Valladolid.

We found the road from Benavente to Astorga covered with corpses, slain

horses, artillery carriages, and broken wagons, and at every step met

detachments of soldiers with torn clothing, without shoes, and, indeed,

in a most deplorable condition. These unfortunates were all fleeing

towards Astorga, which they regarded as a port of safety, but which soon

could not contain them all. It was terrible weather, the snow falling so

fast that it was almost blinding; and, added to this, I was ill, and

suffered greatly during this painful journey.

The Emperor while at Tordesillas had established his headquarters in the

buildings outside the convent of Saint-Claire, and the abbess of this

convent was presented to his Majesty. She was then more than sixty-five

years old, and from the age of ten years back never left this place. Her

intelligent and refined conversation made a most agreeable impression on

the Emperor, who inquired what were her wishes, and granted each one.

We arrived at Valladolid the 6th of January, 1809, and found it in a

state of great disorder. Two or three days after our arrival, a cavalry

officer was assassinated by Dominican monks; and as Hubert, one of our

comrades, was passing in the evening through a secluded street, three men

threw themselves on him and wounded him severely; and he would doubtless

have been killed if the grenadiers of the guard had not hastened to his

assistance, and delivered him from their hands. It was the monks again.

At length the Emperor, much incensed, gave orders that the convent of the

Dominicans should be searched; and in a well was found the corpse of the

aforesaid officer, in the midst of a considerable mass of bones, and the

convent was immediately suppressed by his Majesty's orders; he even

thought at one time of issuing the same rigorous orders against all the

convents of the city. He took time for reflection, however, and

contented himself by appointing an audience, at which all the monks of

Valladolid were to appear before him. On the appointed day they came;

not all, however, but deputations from each convent, who prostrated

themselves at the Emperor's feet, while he showered reproaches upon them,

called them assassins and brigands, and said they all deserved to be

hung. These poor men listened in silence and humility to the terrible

language of the irritated conqueror whom their patience alone could

appease; and finally, the Emperor's anger having exhausted itself, he

grew calmer, and at last, struck by the reflection that it was hardly

just to heap abuse on men thus prostrate on their knees and uttering not

a word in their own defense, he left the group of officers who surrounded

him, and advanced into the midst of the monks, making them a sign to rise

from their supplicating posture; and as these good men obeyed him, they

kissed the skirts of his coat, and pressed around him with an eagerness

most alarming to the persons of his Majesty's suite; for had there been

among these devotees any Dominican, nothing surely could have been easier

than an assassination.

During the Emperor's stay at Valladolid, I had with the grand marshal a

disagreement of which I retain most vivid recollections, as also of the

Emperor's intervention wherein he displayed both justice and good-will

towards me. These are the facts of the case: one morning the Duke de

Frioul, encountering me in his Majesty's apartments, inquired in a very

brusque tone (he was very much excited) if I had ordered the carriage to

be ready, to which I replied in a most respectful manner that they were

always ready. Three times the duke repeated the same question, raising

his voice still more each time; and three times I made him the same

reply, always in the same respectful manner. "Oh, you fool!" said he at

last, "you do not understand, then."--"That arises evidently,

Monseigneur, from your Excellency's imperfect explanations!" Upon which

he explained that he was speaking of a new carriage which had come from

Paris that very day, a fact of which I was entirely ignorant. I was on

the point of explaining this to his Excellency; but without deigning to

listen, the grand marshal rushed out of the room exclaiming, swearing,

and addressing me in terms to which I was totally unaccustomed. I

followed him as far as his own room in order to make an explanation; but

when he reached his door he entered, and slammed it in my face.

In spite of all this I entered a few moments later; but his Excellency

had forbidden his valet de chambre to introduce me, saying that he had

nothing to say to me, nor to hear from me, all of which was repeated to

me in a very harsh and contemptuous manner.